Annunciator for hotel letter-boxes.



No. 841,168. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. P. MUSGHBNHEIM. ANNUNCIATOR'FOR HOTEL LETTER BOXES. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8,1906

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK MUSCHENHEIM, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

ANNUNCIATOR FOR HOTEL LETTER-BOXES.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREoERroK MUsoI-IEN- HEIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Annunciators for Hotel Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an annunciator for hotel letter-boxes which is so constructed that a sign is automatically displayed in the guests room when a letter is introduced into a box and during the time such letter remains uncalled for.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the letter-box and its connection with anumber of rooms; Fig. 2, a detail front view of part of the box; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a front view of the indicator, and Fig. 5 a side view thereof.

A series of numbered letter-boxes 40 arearranged above and alongside one another in the hotel office, as usual. Each box 40 is pro vided with a metal. drop-lid 41, pivoted at its top by metal hinge 42 to the front of roof 43 of the box so that its outer side is exposed toview. To the roof 43 is further secured near the back thereof and in the path of lid 41 a forwardly and downwardly extending metal spring 44, which is adapted to make contact with lid 41 when the latter is swung upward. To the metal hinge 42 is connected a wire 45, leading to one pole of an electric-light bulb 46. The other pole of this bulb is, by wires 47, 48, and 49, connected to a suitable source of electricity 50, which in turn by wires 51 52, is connected to contact 44.

Bulb 46 is contained within the casing 53 of an indicator, located in a roomsay 28 the number of which corresponds to that of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filerl September 8, 1906.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Serial No. 333.753.

letter-box connected therewith. Indicator 53 has a glass front 54 lettered Call for mail at the office or in similar manner.

When a letter 55 is introduced into box 40, it will swing lid 41 inward and upward so as to make contact with spring 44. In this way a circuit is closed to light-bulb 46 and illuminate the indicator, such illumination continuing as long as the mail remains in the box.

Thus a guest can ascertain at a glance while in his room whether or not any mail is awaiting him. As soon as the mail is taken out of the box lid 41 will drop by gravity to become disengaged from spring 44, open the circuit, and extinguish light 46.

It will be seen that my annunciator is re liable in operation, because a letter cannot possibly be introduced into the box without raising the lid into contact with spring 44 and thereby causing the lettering on glass front 54 to be illuminated. So, also, the withdrawal of the mail from the box will cause an instantaneous and positive dropping of the lid, whereby the contact is broken and the light extinguished.

I claim A letter-box having a metal drop-lid hinged at its top to the front of the box and having an exposed outer side, a contactspring extending downward from the roof of the box in the path of the lid, and an indicator in circuit with said lid and spring, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at New York city, Manhattan, New York, this 7th day of September, 1906.

FREDERICK MU SCHENI-IEIM.

Witnesses:

FRANK v. BRIESEN, ARTHUR. ZENNGE. 

